You may have noticed (ok, you probably couldn't have missed it!) that we have been running the 14 Days of Love Campaign.

This is a campaign to get local people writing about their local businesses, and telling us why they love them.

When asked, in our recent survey about the importance of "buying local", over a third of Brits with a high street/ local business nearby said that the high street newsagent was the UK's most important local business.

Even the internationally acclaimed author, Simon Scarrow, has taken time out to sing the praises of his local Norfolk village post office, saying:

"There are very few shops of any kind near where we live, which makes having a bonsai Harrods on the doorstep a delight. My introduction to the post office came shortly after we moved into Alpington some two years ago. From the outside the Post Office looks like two garden sheds linked together. Inside, however, it is a cavern of treats. As well as the mail counter tucked away at the back of the store there’s an unbelievable range of goods: intricate wooden puzzles, intriguing gift books featuring the region, fantastic home made condiments and cakes, thermal gloves and hats (particularly welcome this winter). I frequently visit the shop to post letters and parcels and rarely get away without buying something that has caught my eye. The shop also serves as the hub of the local community and the two brothers who run the shop, Barry and Richard Cushing,  are always happy to have a chat with customers. I feel very lucky to have such a friendly and fascinating shop on my doorstep. Just writing about it brings on the urge to go and post something, if only to get hold of some more of those delicious ginger biscuits!"

Simon Scarrow, Author.

Last year when we first ran the 14 Days of Love campaign, Norwich entered with real gusto, with 4 Norwich businesses being voted "the most loved in the UK".

And this year, we have even more businesses going head to head with others around the UK.

Businesses such as Norfolk photographers, Banana Fudge Studios (you HAVE to read their tesimonials - they're amazing), Norman Wenn Skip Hire, Norwich beauticians, Charisma (they came top last year), People Plan HR Consultants, Dynamic Fitness (personal trainers), Abate Ltd (Pest Control), Removals (Loads4Less), Norwich Puppet Theatre, Pure Tyre, Hangman Curtains & Blinds (who also came top last year) and, for the massage category, we have two Norwich businesses vying for the UK top spot - Therapy inc and The Barn Therapy Centre.

Local business Music and Events are also aiming to be Norwich's most loved business - they're neck and neck at the moment with Charisma, Pure Tyre and Banana Fudge Studio.

Amazing isn't it, that so many Norwich businesses are appearing in the top 5 in the UK.

AND what is more, a Norwich person has won one of the daily prizes. Nick Flower of Overburys won 2 Eurostar tickets to Paris for his testimonial for local garage, STR Service Centre.

If any of the businesses I've listed above come top in the UK when the voting ends at midnight on Monday, then we will be going to the ball with them!

So, if you haven't already voted, help them go to the ball and become the "most loved" in the UK - leave a comment for them here.